RPC to hold 2015 Esperanza in Hyatt Regency Houston, allows ticket resales
The Rice Program Council will hold Esperanza, its annual fall formal, on Nov. 14 in the downtown Hyatt Regency Houston hotel. Themed a “Night at Skyfall,” the dance has 1600 tickets — slightly less than last year’s eventual 1700, but at the same price of $20 — and will feature student DJ Josh Masimore.
RPC External Vice President Jodie Nghiem said RPC faced constraints in finding an appropriately-sized venue within their budget, which stands at $40,000 for the entire event. According to Nghiem, $6,250 of that comes from Blanket Tax (12% of RPC’s total $52,100), and the remainder from ticket sales.
“We are using this blank slate venue as an opportunity to showcase our DJ, casino games and other attractions,” Nghiem, a McMurtry College junior, said. “The cost of Esperanza this year is on par with that of other years.”
Jones College sophomore Shaian Mohammadian, who plans on attending, said that although this year’s location lacks the novelty of last year’s Houston Museum of Natural Science, he remains excited.
“[The hotel] will give the event more of a school dance feel, which will make it less unique but more conducive to dancing and all that,” Mohammadian said. “The venue last year was super unique for an event like Esperanza, which was really cool … but it wasn’t very conducive to hearing the music.”
RPC will allow ticket resales this year after attempting to curb the practice last year, citing that forcing students to go through RPC proved too inconvenient. Refunds, however, will no longer be allowed.
“We believe that by increasing the number of tickets [initially] available this year from 1200 to 1600, it will be difficult for students to resell their tickets for higher than face value,” Nghiem said. “We are allowing the direct resale of tickets between students in the place of refunds … [since refunds] posed a logistical inconvenience for both students and RPC.”
More from The Rice Thresher
Rice Students for Justice in Palestine declares ‘liberated zone’ on campus
As student protests erupt across the country, Rice Students for Justice in Palestine launched a “liberated zone” on Rice campus, announced a two-day series of events and started construction on an “apartheid wall.”
Jeremy Zucker headlines second-ever Moody X-Fest
Jeremy Zucker headlined Rice’s second annual Moody X-Fest in Founder’s Court on April 19. In advance of Zucker’s set, student groups like Basmati Beats, Rice Philharmonic and BASYK performed. The festival also offered complimentary merchandise and food from Dripped Birra, Cane’s and Oh my Gogi.
Jones wins men’s and women’s Beer Bike races, GSA snags alumni
Jones College won both the women’s and men’s Beer Bike 2024 races, while the Graduate Student Association claimed the alumni team win. Hanszen College bike teams were the runner-up in the alumni and men’s races, while Brown College was the runner-up in the women’s race. Martel and McMurtry Colleges did not bike in the alumni race, according to the Rice Program Council’s final report, and the GSA was disqualified from the men’s race for accidentally sending out two bikers simultaneously.
Please note All comments are eligible for publication by The Rice Thresher.